SAXOPHONE IN JAZZ ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE IN THE USA IN THE 20TH CENTURY

Abstract

The article examines the role of the saxophone in the formation and development of jazz ensemble performance in the United States during the 20th century. The study covers a broad chronological range, from the earliest ensemble forms of early jazz (Dixieland, New Orleans style) to fusion bands of the late 1960s–1980s. It traces the evolution of ensemble structures within each stylistic direction of jazz and clarifies the specific role of the saxophone within them. Particular attention is paid to the transformation of the saxophone’s role – from its occasional use in early ensembles to a leading melodic and improvisational instrument in bebop, cool jazz, hard bop, and subsequent styles. The contribution of leading saxophonists – Sidney Bechet, Coleman Hawkins, Charlie Parker, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, and Wayne Shorter – to the formation of jazz stylistic trends and corresponding ensemble types is revealed. A range of factors related to the development of ensemble performance is identified, including cultural and economic ones, which led to the emergence of new ensemble configurations after the big band era. Characteristic ensemble structures of each style are analyzed: from bebop combos (quartet, quintet, sextet) and the cool jazz nonet to Sonny Rollins’s piano-less trio, Miles Davis’s modal sextet, and electrified fusion ensembles. It is noted that the development of jazz art largely took place in New York, partly divided into western and eastern scenes, with subsequent spread across the country. The study demonstrates how changes in instrumental ensemble composition reflected deeper transformations in the aesthetics and philosophy of jazz. The article substantiates the thesis that the evolution of the jazz ensemble was primarily driven by the artistic pursuits of outstanding individuals, many of whom were saxophonists, rather than solely by external cultural factors. The importance of jazz ensemble performance for the overall development of saxophone art and its place in the musical culture of the United States is emphasized.